Kenya’s mobile landscape is undergoing a decisive transformation, with smartphones firmly overtaking basic handsets as the primary tool for connectivity.
Data from the Communication Authority shows that the number of smartphones in use across the country reached 48.726 million by the second quarter of the 2025/26 period, a sharp climb from the 41.477 million recorded in the previous year.
This surge represents a massive migration toward digital-first living, even as the broader hardware market faces specific economic headwinds.
In contrast to the booming smartphone segment, the traditional feature phone is witnessing a steady decline. Usage of these basic handsets dropped from 30.579 million to 29.62 million over the same period.
While feature phones still hold a significant portion of the market, the narrowing gap confirms that more Kenyans are prioritising devices capable of internet browsing, mobile banking, and social media. This shift is critical for a nation that has positioned itself as a regional tech hub, as the expanded smartphone base provides the necessary infrastructure for a growing digital economy.
However, the hardware market isn't without its challenges. Despite the rise in the total number of devices currently in use, the actual volume of new purchases has cooled.
In 2025, consumers bought 7.2 million smartphones, which represents a 7.8% decline from the 7.9 million units purchased in 2024. This suggests that while the existing user base is expanding—likely due to the longevity of current devices or the entry of second-hand units—the pace of new high-end retail acquisitions is slowing down.
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